All three teenagers charged with murder following a shooting that killed an 11-year-old boy last month are in custody, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said this week.
On Tuesday, Al-Hamid Ibrahim Kuyateh, 19, was booked into the Paulding jail, a day after he surrendered at the Cobb County jail, the sheriff’s office said.
On April 29 shortly after 11 p.m., Zander Trayvon Jmeer Whatley was shot while inside his family’s home on Ruth Way, a residential neighborhood near Ga. 92, according to investigators. The fifth grader was taken to a hospital, but later died from his injuries. The GBI was asked to assist with the investigation.
In a Facebook post, Zander’s mother, Shareeda Dorsey, said losing him has been the hardest thing in her life.
“I’m just trying to process my baby not here anymore and comfort his siblings, who are missing him like crazy,” she added.
Warrants were issued for Kuyateh, 18-year-old Osman Sesay Jr. and 19-year-old Nazier Lloyd Anderson, the sheriff’s office said. Sesay was arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a traffic stop.
“I am grateful to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their swift action and helping to take this dangerous individual into custody,” Paulding Sheriff Gary Gulledge said in a statement.
Last week, Anderson surrendered and was booked into the Paulding jail, the sheriff’s office said.
Zander’s funeral was held May 11 on what would have been his 12th birthday. He was a member of the Hal Hutchens Elementary School student council and played soccer, baseball and one season of football, according to his obituary.
After his death, Zander’s teacher, Zuri West, posted a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook that was shared hundreds of times:
“On Monday, April 29th, I lost one of my favorite small humans.
I lost a light.
I lost my daily ‘good morning Ms. West.’
I lost laughter.
I lost MY student.”
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